Most Recent Things to Do in Bolton

Bolton Town Hall

Bolton Town Hall was designed by William Hill, a Leeds architect, and George Woodhouse, a local architect and built between 1866 and 1873. The neoclassical building opened in 1873 by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. The building was extended in the 1930s with a Civic Centre, designs by Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, on Le Mans Crescent which currently houses the museum and library and in the past health clinics, police station and courts.

The Town Hall is Bolton's main civic building and plays hosts to a number of Council and civic events.

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Town Centre's War Memorial

The War Memorial is situated opposite the Town Hall. It commemorates those whose lives were lost during the First World War and unveiled in 1928. The figures were sculpted by Walter Marsden, a local sculptor, which are considered thought provoking and powerful (which was met with controversy). After the Second World War, further inscriptions were added along with Marsden bronze figures in 1933.

The inscriptions:

"Tell ye your children / Our brothers died to win a better / World our part must be to strive/for truth goodwill and peace that / their sacrifice be not in vain / Lest we forget."

"In undying memory of the men / and women of Bolton who gave / their lives in The Great War / 1914–1919 / 1939–1945"

Taken from Invasionzone

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Bolton Art Gallery, Library and Museum

I had some time on my hands before seeing Journey's End at the Octagon so I paid a visit to Bolton's Art Gallery and Museum.

I visited the Bolton Lives Gallery where I learnt and appreciate the town's history including its proud industrial past. Afterwards I had a look round in the art gallery and especially enjoyed the Naughton and Moran Exhibition (which was on at the Fine Art gallery from March to November 2014). There is also Decorative Art, Botany and Egyptology galleries which I didn't get to visit.

Naughton and Moran ExhibitionJames Naughton visited and documented western American landscapes that Thomas Moran, also a Bolton artist, painted 140 years ago. Both their works are displayed in the gallery which shows the inspiration Naughton sought from Moran.

The museum and gallery are free of charge. There is a souvenir/gift shop offering a wide and interesting range of things for sale.

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Bolton's Aquarium

I had some time on my hands before seeing Journey's End matinee at the Octagon Theatre so I paid a visit to Bolton's Aquarium.

The Aquarium, the second largest museum aquarium in the country, is free of charge and opened in January 1941 - during the second World War. It was part of the Central Library and Museum's design which opened, in stages, from 1937 and 1947. The Aquarium is reputed for having only tropical freshwater fish which come from all over the world. The Aquarium is licensed and regularly carries out educational and conservation work.

Though a small aquarium I enjoyed checking out the fishes and string rays.

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Rivington Terraced Gardens

Rivington is a pretty little hamlet situated between Bolton and Chorley. It is in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known as the West Pennine Moors. Here there are many great walking trails in acres of glorious Countryside. The remains of the Terraced Gardens are perched up on the hillside above Rivington. It is a great hike up to see them although it's quite strenuous in parts! For all your hard work and effort you are rewarded with some fantastic views over the Pennines and beyond.

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Hall i'th' Wood

Hall I'th' Wood is a fantastic Grade 1 listed hall. The attractive half timbered building dates from the 16th Century and is a rare example of a tudor wooden framed house. It is set a stonesthrow away from a modern housing estate. The stark contrast begins at the cobbled driveway leading up to the hall. This wonderful abode was owned by wealthy businessmen and traders. After 1697 it was rented out to various tenants. It was during this period that a young Samuel Crompton lived there with his parents. This young man in 1779 invented the spinning mule which transformed the cotton industry.

The Museum within the Hall is open for public events and school visits/certain days throughout the summer holidays. They also open for group tours on request. The museum was closed during our visit but we managed to get some great views from the outside.

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Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall is a fantastic historic house situated near Bolton on the edge of the West Pennine moors. It is one of the best preserved manor houses in the area. The earliest part of the house dates from the 14th Century when a family would have lived, ate and slept in the one room. Numerous rooms and extensions have been added over the years, providing a great residence for all who lived there.

Many of the rooms have been lovingly restored and maintained by Bolton Council who acquired the hall in 1938 for the sum of £70,600. Years of extensive conservation work on the older sections allowed part of the grade I structure to be opened as a museum in1963. In the 1990's further investment went into improving the hall grounds and woodlands and the museumwas extended into some of the Victorian parts of the house.

The rooms are decorated with furnishing and fixtures as they would have been years ago and you can walk through the servants corridors, see the medieval kitchen and great hall. The withdrawing room was a favourite of mine, it has some of the finest surviving intricately carved panelling in the South West. The carvings convey important messages about the social values of that time.

It took about an hour to have a good look at the rooms but don't forget to allow time to visit the wonderful gardens which surround the hall.

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Smithills Country Park

The 2400 Acres of woodland surrounding Smithills Hall provides a haven for nature and nature lovers alike. Here you will find great walking trails which wind their way through woodland and over picturesque stone bridges. There are Countryside wardens on hand at Smithills Hall to give further information of the walks available.

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Aquarium

The Bolton Aquarium is located on the bottom floor of the Museum and Art gallery building,open since 1941,the aquarium is the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester,with a stunning display of fish from all over the world.

Admission is free

Opening times:Mon to Sat-9am till 5pm

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Museum

Located on the second floor of the museum/art gallery building,find out all about Boltons history and local life and also a collection of artifacts and items from around the world.The first floor contains information and items from Boltons past while the second floor is arranged in collections from the worlds continents,there is also an Egyptian room across the hall.

Admission is free

Opening times:Mon till Sat-9am till 5pm

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Art Gallery

Also located on the second floor of the museum building is the Art Gallery,set in two rooms,one with an historic collection of victorian and antiquitan paintings the other roomfor local art and current exibitions,there are some fine peices here and one or two odd peices as well but well worth a look.

Admission is free

opening times:Mon till Sat:9am till 5pm

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All a Board

A short drive from Bolton is the neighbouring to of Bury. Here you’ll find a railway station steeped in history and nostalgia-, “The East Lancashire Railway”

Located on Bolton road the station doesn’t look like much however once inside you are transported back to the 1950’s and the golden age of steam. From old chocolate and player cigarette vending machines through to the first class and second class waiting rooms you will feel like you’re in a black and white movie. The station staff are friendly and wear various uniforms from the across the periods.

There two services that run daily through out the summer and these are ……

Bury – Heywood Shuttle which takes just 20 minutes and the Bury to Rotten stall which is twice long. Both services are operated by period trains.

During the year there are a number of special events such as “The teddy bears picnic” and the Santa Train or on my last visit there was the famous steam engine of all visiting “Thomas the Tank engine “ Along with some of friends and of coarse the Fat controller.

It’s quite good value for money at £11.50 for an adult and just £6.00 for child aged 2 through to 15 years of age and you should allow around 4 hours to enjoy everything fully.

http://www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk/fares.htm

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History tour

The Heritage tours conducted by James Cockerel have English Tourist Board Quality approvel as a National Tourist Attraction. This is a tour of the 12th Century Tavern situated in Bolton town centre.Groups of 10 to 30 people may book a tour at any reasonable time. The charge for the tour is £3 and buffets may be ordered.Special events include Medieval Fair in July and Execution on Oct15th each year.

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Admire the Architecture of the Civic Centre

The Civic Centre in Bolton is just a stonesthrow away from the shopping streets behind the City Hall. The main buildings curve alongside the road to form a Crescent hence the name Le Mans Crescent. It is well worth a wander down this street just to admire the architecture of these grand buildings.

Experience Bolton

Top Bolton Writers

We recently spent a weekend in and around Bolton. before I went there I thought of Bolton as a kind of "poor suburb" of Manchester.
Nothing could be further from the truth. For one thing, it's far......

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Here are a few pictures of our my day out in Bolton centre in early December this year,trip was taken with fellow V.T.ers 'Balam and Myfanwe.
We visited the Art Gallery/Museum,took in a few pubs and...